Space station experiment to take atmospheric measurements

Space station experiment to take atmospheric measurements

Weather satellites come in many shapes and sizes, but a new instrument to study the atmosphere has been delivered to the International Space Station.

The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS), is an instrument for measuring small particles of dust, smoke, and pollutants from human activities. It will use light detection and ranging (LiDAR) , which is explained in this video by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

The instrument was launched aboard the Dragon capsule, an uncrewed re-supply mission for the ISS, on 10 January. The capsule was received at the ISS on 12 January. The CATS instrument will be attached to the outside of the Japanese Kibo module of the station robotically.

Here Dr. Matthew McGill and Dr. John Yorks of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center explain the system in more detail:

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EUMETSAT is a global operational satellite agency at the heart of Europe. Our purpose is to gather accurate and reliable satellite data on weather, climate and the environment around the clock, and to deliver them to our Member and Cooperating States, to our international partners and to users world-wide.